Somerset Council is considering revising its policies on gifts and hospitality after an officer was left £1,000 in the will of an elderly resident whom the council had supported for five years. The granddaughter of the resident expressed her gratitude, saying she wanted “to say thank you for going above and beyond.”
The council recently published its updated gifts and hospitality register, detailing all items valued at £25 or more that have been given to officers either directly or as part of hospitality. According to council rules, officers must declare such gifts within 28 days and notify the monitoring officer to avoid any potential conflicts of interest in their duties.
In the latest six-month reporting period, one officer in the adults and health team declared the £1,000 bequest. This has prompted some council members to question the appropriateness of accepting personal donations. Councillor Frances Nicholson, the shadow portfolio holder for children, families, and education, called for policy changes encouraging residents to direct their appreciation to local charities instead.
READ MORE: Bath Quays North Will “Absolutely” Include Affordable Housing, Says Council
READ MORE: Major Incident Declared in Somerset Following Storm Chandra Flooding
The issue arose during a Somerset standards committee meeting in Taunton on January 22. Paul Hooper, an independent committee member, expressed surprise at the inclusion of a will bequest in the declaration list and sought clarification.
Unlike the register for councillors, the officers’ list does not name individuals, only their departments. Alyn Jones, the council’s monitoring officer, emphasized the transparency of the reporting process and praised officers for their diligence in declaring such gifts.
Scott Wooldridge, head of democratic and governance services, mentioned that officers might request donors to consider giving to a charity chosen annually by the council chairman. However, he added that ultimately, the decision lies with each individual officer.
Councillor Nicholson acknowledged the challenges officers face in refusing gifts, noting a previous incident involving a nursing home staff member who lost their job after accepting a bequest. She suggested that it might be advisable to make it mandatory to redirect such financial gifts to charities to prevent conflicts and discomfort.
Beyond the £1,000 bequest, the council’s register shows a variety of other gifts and hospitality accepted between July and December 2025—ranging from tickets to events like the Glastonbury Festival and cricket matches to smaller tokens such as gift cards, flowers, and hampers. Some gifts were related to professional networking, while others came directly from grateful residents, such as a £50 anonymous donation at Bridgwater Library or a wine decanter from a Taunton resident.
As Somerset Council continues to review these policies, the balance between appreciating service and maintaining ethical boundaries remains under active discussion.